Patronus Messengers

[Eponine]

Hey all, I just have a quick question. :)

When Order members send their Patronus as a messenger, can that Patronus talk and have conversations or can it just be used to convey short messages? I'm asking because I wrote a scene in my WIP where a few people abroad have a conversation with a teacher's Patronus. Now that I think about it, I worry that the messenger system can't work like that.

I think I do remember a scene with Mr. Weasley's Patronus having a conversation with Harry, Ron and Hermione, but I can't find it anywhere in DH and I'm starting to think I just made it up.

So--what do you guys think? Is it possible or do you think it only works one way?

Thanks! :D

[Azhure]

I think that it can only convey short messages. That scene in DH is only Mr Weasley's Patronus saying that the family is safe. There is no actual conversation.

Remember, a Patronus is not the person. It is just something conjured up to get rid of Dementors and send warnings/messages. There is no way (mentioned in canon) that the person who sent the Patronus can hear what other people are saying near the Patronus.

Of course, there is nothing that directly says that this is correct, it's just what I believe JKR is conveying about the Patronus charm.

Hope that helped!

~~Azhure~~

[megan_lupin]

Well, there's nothing that I recall ever being said that directly contradicts what you're wanting to do, like Azhure said. However, by the same token, there's nothing that says it's possible. All of our evidence from canon just has the Patronus relaying messages; no conversation is taking place.

The scene with the trio and Mr Weasley's Patronus is what Azhure said it was -- just Arthur's Patronus telling the kids that the family was safe, they were being watched so don't contact them, etc. No conversation with Harry-Ron-Hermione took place. (Oh, and it was shortly after the trio arrived at Grimmauld Place, after fleeing from the wedding.)

So, yeah, basically, there's nothing that says conversations are impossible, but there's nothing that says they can do that.

My personal opinion is that they can't. They're only able to relay short, brief messages to an intended recipient. (That, and combat Dementors of course ;) )

~Megan

[botheringsnape]

I don't think that a Patronus could have a conversation with people. It would be used to just send a message to someone if there was no faster means of communication.

However, I do believe that a person might be able to somehow give the Patronus the answers to a question that might be asked. The Patronus might not be able to have a conversation, but it would have the answer to a question "stored" so that it would be able to respond if a certain question was asked... Just a thought.

Good luck writing!

~Ashley

[Eponine]

Hm... These are interesting answers! I'll definitely keep them in mind while I'm reworking that scene of mine. Thanks, guys!

Also--I have another question: How far do you think the Patronuses could go? The way I have it written right now is that it is traveling to a different country, but on second thought, that is a bit far. Thoughts?

If anyone has any more suggestions, please post them! This scene is a few chapters away, so I have a bit of time to work on it! :)

[megan_lupin]

Hmm, I've never actually thought about *distance* for the Patronus. There's not a canon answer either way, but personally, I wouldn't worry about it.

The way I would do it would be that the distance wouldn't matter (across the street or across the ocean, it'll work). Granted, at the same time, I wouldn't think a very poorly powerful person, who can *barely* manage to cast a Patronus would be likely to send it over great distances, but someone like Harry, who's grown quite adapt at that spell, I think could do it.

Plus, is there anything that really says a Patronus is physically maintained/visible the entire time it travels to its destination? Like Mr Weasley's Patronus in DH that he sent to the Trio. They were in Grimmauld Place in London; he was at the Burrow. Did that silver weasel "run" normally all the way from him to them, or what?

*Doesn't know if that last paragraph makes a great deal of sense*

But, my opinion of your question would be not to worry about the distance. At least, if I was writing the story, I wouldn't be.

~Megan

[bluexroses]

However, I do believe that a person might be able to somehow give the Patronus the answers to a question that might be asked. The Patronus might not be able to have a conversation, but it would have the answer to a question "stored" so that it would be able to respond if a certain question was asked... Just a thought.

I'd have to disagree here. I think Patronuses are more of a one-way communication. Now of course the person who receives the message could send their own Patronus back with an answer, but I just sort of assumed that once the Patronus delivered the message it sort of... evaporated. :o

As for the distance question, I agree with Megan and don't think distance is a problem. In my mind it goes something like this: someone would cast the Patronus, tell it the message and who to give it to, and simply let it go on its way.

Hope this helped!
~Ayesha

[cmwinters]

They are one-way. Dumbledore used his in GoF to summon Hagrid. Kingsley used his to tell the wedding party "they are coming", and his Patronus spoke with his voice. The Ministry is in London and Ottery St Catchpole, which is about 200 miles driving, and was nearly instantaneous, because as soon almost as soon as the message was delivered, the Death Eaters arrived.

Theoretically, Dumbledore could have sent his Patronus to Hagrid, with the message "Come to the hospital wing", and Hagrid, assuming he's capable of sending a Patronus, could have sent his back with "In a minute; hip deep in Flobberworm essence" or some such. It wouldn't really be a conversation, but they can convey messages.